Starting block



June 11, 1935. E. F. NIDAY 2,004,172

STARTING BLOCK Filed July 31, 1954 INVENT-OR. ,EF/V/M Patented June 11, 1935 STARTING BLOCK I Everett F. Niday, Altaden'a, Calif.

r 8 Claims.

. "Iliis'iinvention, relates to starting blocks a The general object of the invention is. to provide an improved starting block. for the use of runners. 1 A more speciflcobject of the invention is to providea novel starting block which includes a frame and means to support a foot plate upon the frame..

' A further object of the invention is to provide a startingblock including a novel foot plate and brace which collapses flat when not in use. .Qtherobjects and the advantages. of my inventionwill be apparent fromthe following descripti n taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is, a central sectional View of a. starting block embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is atop, plan .view of the block;

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the foot plate in another position; and,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing two of the blocks secured together.

Referring to the drawing by reference char-- acters I have indicated my starting block generally at l0. As shown the starting block is preferably made of metal and comprises a body indicated generally at H, a foot plate indicated at ll2, and a brace member indicated generally at 3.

The body includes a pair of side members I which are held in parallel spaced apart relation by end members I5 and I6. The end member I6 is somewhat longer than the end member l5 and serves as a toe plate which the toe of the runners shoe may engage.

At the junction of the sides and ends I provide downwardly projecting spike members which are adapted to be pushed into the ground to hold the starting block against movement.

The spike members H are tapered and the body H has holeslB corresponding in taper and position to that of the spikes I! so that two of the blocks may be brought together with the bottoms adjacent and with the spikes H in the holes I8 where the taper holds the blocks together. To prevent the blocks from separating I may provide pockets l9 having shoulders I9 therein on each block which receive resilient tongues 2| having releasable locking members 22 thereon. When not in use the tongues 2| may be swung into the position shown in Fig. 2.

The foot plate comprises a member having a shaft 20 at its forward end which passes through apertures 2| in the side members M. The foot Application 1111931, 1934, seri l No. 737,133

plate is provided with side flan es 22 andwith an end portion 23, and the side flange is recessed tofor m pockets 24 and 25. The foot plateis provided with a boss 26 which is. apertured as. at

21 and throughwhich one endiof a spring 28 extends. The otherend of the spring 28 is secured by a screw 29 to the lower surface of the toe plate. IS. The spring v28 tends tcflnormally urge thefoot plate to a position between the side members l4. i i p p 1.

The brace member l3 includes a pair of arms 30 which are held in space'd apart relation by a cross member 3| and the arms, 30 are pivoted on a shaft 32 which passesv through holes, in the side members l4. 7 l

Each of the arms 3Bis provided with alug .33 and these lugs 33 are adapted to fit in either of the pockets .24 or 2.5 to vary the inclination of the foot plate. The brace member I3 in collapsed position fits betweenthe side walls l4 and to prevent undue movement the end of one of the arms 30 (see Fig. 4) is notched as at 34 and in folded position of the arm the notch 34 engages the end of a spring 35 which is secured to the cross member l5 by a screw 36.

The end portion 23 of the foot plate is narrower than the body of the foot plate and fits between the arms 3|] (as shown in Fig. 2) and engages inwardly directed lugs 31 on the arms 30 to thereby limit the downward movement of the foot plate.

The foot plate is shown as provided with a recess 38 in which an engaging member 39 which may be made of wood, rubber or other material may be positioned to form a better gripping surface for the runner.

The side members M are preferably provided with a scale of graduations 40 to aid the runner to accurately position the starting blocks.

In use the foot plate |2 israised against the 1 tension of the spring 28 and the brace member is moved so that the lugs 33 thereon fit one of the pockets 24 or 25. The spikes are then inserted in the ground and the block is ready for use.

From the foregoing description it will be apbetween the sides of said frame, a foot plate pivotally mounted on said body between the sides thereon adapted to engage the surface of a running track, said body including longitudinally extending spaced side members and end members, a foot plate, means to pivotally mount'one end of said foot plate between said side members, a brace, said brace including one end portion fitted between said side members and fixedly pivoted to the side members, and means on the other end of the brace member releasably engaging the other end of the foot plate to hold the foot plate in elevated position.

4. In a starting block, a body means thereon adapted to engage the surface of a running race, said body including longitudinally extending spaced side members, a foot plate, means tofixedly pivot said foot plate between said side members, a brace, means to fixedly pivot said brace between saidside members, a pair of grooves on the foot plate and means on the brace member releasably engaging the grooves of the foot plate to hold the foot plate in elevated position.

5. In a starting block, a rectangular frame having spaced sides and spaced ends, a brace pivotally mounted between said sides at one end of said frame, a foot plate, means to pivot said foot plate .on said frame between said sides, said brace having means thereon engaging the foot plate, said foot plate including a body adapted to be engaged by the sole of the shoe of the user, said frame having tapered spikes on the bottom thereof to engage the surface of a running track, said frame having tapered holes therein adjacent the spikes and corresponding in taper to the taper of the spikes.

6. In a starting block, a rectangular body having parallel sides, said. sides having opposed holes therein, a brace having a shaft at one end passing through said holes, a foot plate, said foot plate at one end having a shaft passing through said sides, said brace at the other end'having means thereon engaging the foot plate, said foot plate including a body, said body having a recess, a bearing member in said recess adapted to be engaged by the sole of the shoe of the user.

7. In a starting block, a body having means thereon adapted to engage the surface of a running track, said body including longitudinally extending spaced side members and end members, a foot plate, a fixed shaft passing throughsaid foot plate and said side members whereby the foot plate is pivoted, a brace, means passing through one end of said brace and said side members whereby the brace is pivoted to the side members, and means on the other end of the brace member releasably engaging the foot plate to hold the foot plate in elevated position.

8. In a starting block, a body having sides, a brace pivotally mounted at one end of said body, a foot plate on said body, said brace means thereon releasably engaging the foot plate, said foot plate including a part adapted to be engaged by the sole of the shoe of the user, said body having a shouldered pocket at one end and having a locking tongue at the other end adapted to engage within the shouldered pocket of a similar adjacent block. I

EVERE'I'I' F. 'NIDAY. 

